WRITTEN QUESTION No. 2979/98 by John McCARTIN to the Commission. Clothing sector
Date: 1998-10-08
Institutions: European Parliament, MCCARTIN
Subjects: European undertaking, clothing industry, competitiveness, developing countries, economic cooperation, economic policy, transfer of businesses

21.5.1999

EN

Official Journal of the European Communities

C 142/65

(1999/C 142/080)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2979/98

by John McCartin (PPE) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Clothing sector

Is the Commission aware of the continuing decline in the clothing sector because of the industry relocating
to developing countries, (a recent example of which is the ‘Fruit of the Loom’, an American company
based in Co. Donegal, Ireland deciding to relocate to Morocco − with the loss of 300 jobs and 1500
employees put on short time) and is the Commission considering any plans to arrest this trend?

Answer given by Mr Bangemann on behalf of the Commission

(13 November 1998)

The relocation of industrial activities from Europe to third countries is taking place against the background
of strong economic growth and competition at world level. Over the last few years, textile and clothing
companies have come up with strategies for the internationalisation of their production so as to better
serve their worldwide interests. This has been happening more in the clothing sector than in the textile
sector.

The Commission is convinced that
this trend cannot be slowed down by administrative action.
Furthermore, protectionist measures would be neither a truly feasible nor a profitable way of eliminating
the causes. Relocation could be reduced by applying the Community measures aimed at increasing the
competitiveness of the textile and clothing industry. The Commission’s ‘Plan of action to increase the
competitiveness of the European textile and clothing industry’ (1) in particular provides a framework for
coordinating all Community schemes to boost the competitive advantages of European companies in this
sector.

With regard to economic cooperation strategy (e.g. Asiainvest, Alinvest, JOP, MEDA projects, ECIP and
the Centre for Industrial Development), the Commission encourages projects aimed at strengthening the
European sector in third country markets in terms of their potential impact on Community employment.

As regards the company ‘Fruit of the Loom’, the Commission is not aware of any Community assistance
having been granted.

(1) COM(97) 454 final.

(1999/C 142/081)

WRITTEN QUESTION E-2997/98

by Franz Linser (NI) to the Commission

(8 October 1998)

Subject: Implementation of the Brenner base-level tunnel project

In its White Paper ‘A strategy for revitalising the Community’s railways’ the Commission stressed that
greater use of the railways as an economic alternative to road transport would be an effective way of
combating the problem of heavy traffic volumes. The province of Tirol is the region of the European
Union most heavily affected by Alpine transit. It is planned in the framework of the TENs to build a
Brenner base-level tunnel, which should enable a large part of the goods and passenger traffic that passes
through the Tirol to be moved to the railways.

In the view of the Commission, has the time now come to start building the Brenner basis-level

1.
tunnel?

2.

If so, how are the access routes leading through Italy and Germany to the tunnel to be created?

If not, what are the reasons not to begin construction as soon as possible, and when will building

3.
begin?